New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2021 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2021 NFL season on 2022-01-09, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 30–20 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -13.78 total EPA, and +1.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.30 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (9:08) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill pass short middle to 10-T.Smith to ATL 38 for 34 yards (21-D.Harmon; 55-S.Means).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +8.30 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Smith · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.50 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Gage · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.95 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Siemian · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +5.43 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
5. 5 O. Zaccheaus · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.24 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
6. 6 H. Hurst · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.63 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.63 EPA/play
7. 7 Q. Ollison · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.41 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.41 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Trautman · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.26 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.26 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New Orleans Saints — A. Trautman (T. Hill pass) (Q1 53:36)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Smith (T. Siemian pass) (Q2 35:52)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Johnson (T. Siemian pass) (Q2 30:07)
• Atlanta Falcons — Q. Ollison (Q3 17:56)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. Gage (M. Ryan pass) (Q4 0:27)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q1 48:20)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q2 40:36)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Maher (Q2 31:08)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Maher (Q4 10:59)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Maher (Q4 7:41)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 18 (Q1 53:36) — (8:36) 7-T.Hill pass short left to 82-A.Trautman for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q1 53:29) — 19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 30 (Q1 48:20) — (3:20) 7-Y.Koo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 17–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 36 (Q2 40:36) — (10:36) 7-Y.Koo 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 13 (Q2 35:52); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 35:47) — 19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (Q2 31:08) — (1:08) 19-B.Maher 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 5 (Q2 30:07) — (:07) (Shotgun) 15-T.Siemian pass short middle to 83-J.Johnson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 30:02) — 19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 19 (Q3 17:56) — (2:56) 30-Q.Ollison right guard for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q3 17:49) — 7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–6. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 9 (Q4 10:59) — (10:59) 19-B.Maher 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 15 (Q4 7:41) — (7:41) 19-B.Maher 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q4 0:27); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 25 (Q4 0:21) — 7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 39:08) — (9:08) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill pass short middle to 10-T.Smith to ATL 38 for 34 yards (21-D.Harmon; 55-S.Means). [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.49]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 35:41) — (5:41) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right intended for 14-R.Gage INTERCEPTED by 29-P.Adebo at NO 29. 29-P.Adebo pushed ob at NO 46 for 17 yards (28-M.Davis). [WPA -11.6% · EPA -4.38]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 42:33) — (12:33) (No Huddle) 2-M.Ryan pass deep left to 17-O.Zaccheaus to NO 43 for 28 yards (29-P.Adebo; 43-M.Williams). [WPA +10.5% · EPA +2.61]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 28-M.Davis to ATL 19 for -6 yards (27-M.Jenkins). FUMBLES (27-M.Jenkins), RECOVERED by NO-5-K.Alexander at ATL 19. 5-K.Alexander to ATL 11 for 8 yards (70- [WPA -9.1% · EPA -5.76]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 35:52) — (5:52) (Shotgun) 15-T.Siemian pass short left to 10-T.Smith for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on NO-10-T.Smith, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +7.7% · EPA +1.93]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 28-M.Davis to ATL 19 for -6 yards (27-M.Jenkins). FUMBLES (27-M.Jenkins), RECOVERED by NO-5-K.Alexander at ATL 19. 5-K.Alexander to ATL 11 for 8 yards (70- [WPA -9.1% · EPA -5.76]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 10:55) — (10:55) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 28-M.Davis to ATL 28 for 3 yards (5-K.Alexander). FUMBLES (5-K.Alexander), RECOVERED by NO-99-S.Tuttle at ATL 29. [WPA -2.6% · EPA -5.58]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 35:41) — (5:41) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right intended for 14-R.Gage INTERCEPTED by 29-P.Adebo at NO 29. 29-P.Adebo pushed ob at NO 46 for 17 yards (28-M.Davis). [WPA -11.6% · EPA -4.38]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 43:33) — (13:33) 19-B.Maher 34 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin. [WPA -6.9% · EPA -3.83]

Quarterback report card

M.Ryan led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 39 dropbacks · 51.3% completion · +1.1% CPOE · -0.35 EPA/play · -13.78 total EPA
• T.Siemian (New Orleans Saints) · 17 dropbacks · 52.9% completion · +2.3% CPOE · +0.32 EPA/play · +5.43 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New Orleans Saints generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.06 vs -0.13), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, -8.10 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +5.41 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New Orleans Saints leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 53:36 · ATL 18 · Score 6-0
   (8:36) 7-T.Hill pass short left to 82-A.Trautman for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 53:29 · ATL 15 · Score 7-0
   19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 48:20 · NO 30 · Score 7-3
   (3:20) 7-Y.Koo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead.
4. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 40:36 · NO 36 · Score 7-6
   (10:36) 7-Y.Koo 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 35:52 · ATL 13 · Score 13-6
   (5:52) (Shotgun) 15-T.Siemian pass short left to 10-T.Smith for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on NO-10-T.Smith, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced betwe
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 35:47 · ATL 15 · Score 14-6
   19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
7. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 31:08 · ATL 18 · Score 17-6
   (1:08) 19-B.Maher 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:07 · ATL 5 · Score 23-6
   (:07) (Shotgun) 15-T.Siemian pass short middle to 83-J.Johnson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 30:02 · ATL 15 · Score 24-6
   19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
10. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 17:56 · NO 19 · Score 24-12
    (2:56) 30-Q.Ollison right guard for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 17:49 · NO 15 · Score 24-13
    7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead.
12. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 10:59 · ATL 9 · Score 27-13
    (10:59) 19-B.Maher 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
13. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 7:41 · ATL 15 · Score 30-13
    (7:41) 19-B.Maher 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
14. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 0:27 · NO 1 · Score 30-19
    (:27) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 14-R.Gage for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld.
15. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 0:21 · NO 25 · Score 30-20
    7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-19-T.Morstead.